House of Commons Journal Volume 10: 23 December 1691

Mercurii, 23 die Decembris; 3° Gulielmi et Mariæ.

Prayers.

A MESSAGE from the Lords, by Sir Miles Cooke and Mr. Meredith;

Shelton's Estate.

Mr. Speaker, The Lords have passed a Bill, intituled, An Act to enable the Sale of several Lands for Payment of the Debts and Legacies of Maurice Shelton, and others; and for settling other Lands, instead of them: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Curtis' Estate.

And also a Bill, intituled, An Act for the more speedy Payment of the Debts of Eliza. Curtis, Widow, late deceased, and Performance of an Agreement touching the same, made between Charles Curtis in his Life-time, and Edward Erle, according to a Decree in the High Court of Chancery: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Earl of Winchelsea's Estate.

And also a Bill, intituled, An Act for the enabling the Right honourable Charles Earl of Winchelsea, to settle a Jointure upon any Wife he shall marry during his Minority: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Martyn's Estate.

And also a Bill, intituled, An Act for Sale of the Manor of Manworthy, with its Appurtenances, in the County of Devon, being the Lands and Estate of Nicholas Martyn, Esquire, by Trustees herein after named, for Payment of the Debts of the said Nicholas Martyn: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

French Bay Salt.

Also, the Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for preserving Two Ships Lading of Bay Salt, taken as Prize, for the Benefit of their Majesties Navy, without any Amendments.

And then the Messengers withdrew.

Fraudulent Devises.

Mr. Waller, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the better Relief of Creditors against fraudulent Wills and Devises. And the same was received.

Roberts' Estate.

Mr. Carter reported from the Committee to whom the ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to vest certain Messuages, Lands, and Tenements, in Thorpe, Langton, and elsewhere in the County of Leicester, in Trustees, to be sold, for the Payment of the Debts of Richard Roberts, Esquire, and for raising Portions for his Daughters, was committed, That they had directed him to report to the House, That they had agreed to the Bill, without any Amendments. And he delivered the same in at the Table.

Davile's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill to enable Wm. Davile to sell Lands, for Payment of Debts, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for enabling Wm. Davile to sell some Lands for Payment of his Debts.

Ordered, That Mr. Christie do carry the said Bill to the Lords; and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Campion's Will.

An ingrossed Bill for the better enabling the Trustees and Executors of Rich. Campion, deceased, to perform his Will, was read the Third time.

Resolved, That the Bill do pass: And that the Title be, An Act for the better enabling the Trustees and Executors of Rich. Campion, deceased, to perform his Will.

Ordered, That Mr. Christie do carry the Bill to the Lords; and desire their Concurrence thereunto.

Exporting Bullion, &c.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill to discourage the Exportation of Bullion, and to encourage the Importation of it, and converting the same into the Coin of this Realm.

And the same was presented to the House; and received.

The Bill was read the First time.

Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second time.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Nath. Nappier have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, his Wife being ill.

Ordered, That Captain Reignolds have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days, from this time, upon extraordinary Occasions.

Privateers.

Sir John Guise, according to Order, presented to the House a Bill for the Encouraging of Privateers against France, and for the better Security of the Trade of this Nation. And the same was received.

Banbury Election.

Ordered, That the Chairman of the Committee of Privileges and Elections do report the Matter touching the Election of Banbury, with the other Reports of Elections in the County of Oxford, upon Tuesday Morning next.

Punishment of Offenders.

An ingrossed Bill from the Lords, intituled, An Act to take away Clergy from some Offenders, and to bring others to Punishment, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed, upon the Debate of the House, to Mr. Bedding feild, Sir Sam. Bernardiston, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Waller, Serjeant Trenchard, Sir Tho. Haslerigg, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Smith, Mr. Biddolph, Sir Rob. Henly, Sir Rob. Sawyer, Serjeant Wogan, Mr. Thornhaugh, Mr. Windham, Mr. Buscawen, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Burdett, Mr. Lutterell, Mr. Kenyon, Mr. Blowfeild, Mr. Leving, Sir Rob. Cotton, Sir Ralph Dutton, Sir Wm. Cook, Mr. Brewer, Mr. Cook, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Perry, Mr. Mountague, Mr. England, Mr. Fuller, Mr. Hutchinson, and all the Gentlemen of the Long Robe: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Gott have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight, upon his Majesty's Service.

Malicious Informations.

A Bill for preventing malicious Informations in the Court of King's Bench, and for the more easy Reversal of Outlawries in the same Court, was read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Bill be committed, upon the Debate of the House, to Mr. Dalben, Mr. Slater, Serjeant Wogan, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Fenwick, Sir Jerv. Elwes, Lord Eland, Sir Wm. Honywood, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr. Ash, Mr. Leving, Mr. England, Mr. Christie, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Biddolph, Mr. Gwyn, Lord Castleton, Mr. Etterick, Sir Cha. Sidley, Sir Tho. Haslerig, Mr. Waller, Mr. Bedding feild, Mr. Kenyon, Mr. Burdett, Mr. Buscawen, Mr. White, Sir Peter Colliton, Mr. Smith, Mr. Fuller, Colonel Titus, Mr. Greenfeild, Serjeant Trenchard, Mr. Ryder, and all the Gentlemen of the Long Robe: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Privilege of a Member in a Suit.

A Petition of John Lord Delawarr, was presented to the House.

And the same concerning Sir John Cutler, a Member of this House; who was not present in the House;

Ordered, That the said Petition be read upon Tuesday Morning next: And that Sir John Cutler be acquainted therewith; and do then attend in his Place.

Tryals for Treason.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the Lords, to put their Lordships in mind of the Bill for Regulating of Tryals, in Cases of Treason.

Ordered, That Colonel Granvile do carry the said Message:

Commissioners of Accompts.

Ordered, That Leave be given to bring in a Bill for the enlarging of the Time for the Commissioners for taking the publick Accompts.

East India Company.

Then the House being acquainted, that Sir Tho. Cooke, Sir * Langhorne, Sir Tho. Rawlinson, and others, the Committee of the East India Company, attended, according to Order;

They were called in: And, at the Bar, did deliver in Proposals, in Writing, signed by the Company's Secretary, concerning Security to be given.

Which were read; the said Persons standing at the Bar; and are as followeth; viz.

At a General Court of Adventurers for the general joint Stock to the East Indies, holden on Tuesday the Two-and-twentieth December 1691.

The Governor acquainted the Generality with the Occasion of their present Meeting; which was, to communicate unto them the Votes of the honourable House of Commons assembled in Parliament, made the Eighteenth Instant:

Which were now read unto them.

On Consideration whereof had the Generality, in a very full Court, unanimously resolved and agreed;

1. That Security be given, That the Company's Stock is really worth as much as the Accompt delivered in to that honourable House, makes out.

2. That the said Security be either by the Company's Common Seal, as hath been always done, or by every particular Adventurer's personal Obligation for his own Stock, or by so many of the principal Adventurers as shall be approved of for the full Value of the Company's Stock, as it is given in to the honourable House; so as the said principal Adventurers may be secured by the Stock of the rest of the Adventurers, by a Clause in the Act to be passed.

Signed, in the Name of the Governor and General Court,

Ro. Blackborn, Secretary.

And the said Persons being withdrawn;

The Matter of the said Proposals was debated.

And the Question being put, That the Proposals of Security, from the Committee of the East India Company, are pursuant to the Resolutions of this House;

It passed in the Negative.

And the said Persons were called in again; and were acquainted therewith.

And being withdrawn;

Ordered, That the Committee of the East India Company do, upon Tuesday Morning next, at Ten a Clock, bring to this House the Persons they shall propose to be Security.

Chippenham Return.

The House being informed, that the Election for the Borough of Chippenham in the County of Wilts hath been over a considerable time; but that the Sheriff hath not yet made a Return into the Crown Office;

Ordered, That the Sheriff of the said County of Wilts do immediately bring in his Return for the said Borough.

Supply Bill; Land Tax.

Ordered, That the ingrossed Bill for granting to their Majesties the Sum of Sixteen hundred fifty-one thousand Seven hundred and Two Pounds, towards carrying on a vigorous War against France, be read the Third time To-morrow Morning.

Dover Harbour.

Resolved, That this House will, To-morrow Morning, after the said ingrossed Bill is read, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Bill for the Repair of Dover Harbour.

Committees.

Ordered, That all Committees be adjourned.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, Eight of the Clock.